Sanitary pads with end loops for strings

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is an absorbent pad having a pulp filler encased within a wrapper or envelope which extends outwardly from each end of the filler forming end tabs with the end tabs heat sealed onto the wrapper by the thermoplastic material used in forming the wrapper or envelope and a string or cord provided in the loop formed by the end tabs.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Ruth Joa Kiela 411 Ridge Court, Kohler, Wis. 53044 [21] Appl. No. 773,849 [22] Filed Nov. 6, 1968 [45] Patented Apr. 20, 1971 [54] SANITARY PADS WITH END LOOPS FOR STRINGS 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 128/290 [51] Int. Cl A61f13/16 [50] Field of Search 128/284,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,681,112 8/1928 Garrow 128/290 2,571,577 10/1951 H0ward..... 128/284 2,599,355 6/1952 Stepp 128/287 FOREIGN PATENTS 485,682 8/1952 Canada 128/290 535,659 4/1941 Great Britain.... 128/290 755,387 8/1956 Great Britain.... 128/290 1,046,255 12/1958 Germany... 128/290 1,379,185 l0/l964 France 128/290 Primary Examiner-Charles F. Rosenbaum Attorney-Wheeler, Wheeler, House & Wheeler ABSTRACT: Disclosed herein is an absorbent pad having a pulp filler encased within a wrapper or envelope which extends outwardly from each end of the tiller forming end tabs with the end tabs heat sealed onto the wrapper by the thermoplastic material used in forming the wrapper or envelope and a string or cord provided in the loop formed by the end tabs.

SANITARY PADS WITH END LOOPS FOR STRINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Absorbent pads such as diapers and sanitary napkins are conventionally formed by encasing an absorbent filler with a nonwoven or a combination nonwoven, moisture resistant, wrapper. The wrapper is heat sealed along the overlapped margins to encase the filler within the wrapper. The wrapper generally extends beyond the filler to form end tabs that are used for attaching the pad to the body of the user. The tabs, particularly in a polybonded pad, are quite long to provide sufficient material for attachment and are folded back onto the pad for packaging. These long end tabs often become misaligned during production presenting a poor appearance to the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The absorbent pad of the present invention has the end tabs which extend outwardly endwise from each end of the pad, folded back against and heat sealed to the wrapper. Heat sealing of the end tabs to the pad wrapper is accomplished by heat activating the thermoplastic materials present in the wrapper. The end tabs may be releasably secured to the pad to eliminate the tendency of the end tabs to become misaligned during packaging and allowing for the easy release of the end tabs from the pad for attachment purposes. The end tabs may be permanently secured to the pad to provide a channel loop or anchorage for a string or cord to attach the pad to the body of the user. In this latter arrangement, the length of the end tabs is reduced, as compared to prior arrangements in which the end tabs function as belt attachments, thus resulting in a considerable saving of material.

Other advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of an absorbent pad formed with a heat-sealed longitudinal seam;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the absorbent pad of FIG. 1 with the end tabs heat sealed to the body;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an absorbent pad having an attachment cord threaded through the loop formed by securing the end tab to the body of the pad;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the overlapped seam along the edge of the pad;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3 showing the end tab secured to the pad to form a loop at the end of the pad with a cord passing through the loop;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an absorbent pad such as a diaper having an attachment cord threaded in the loop formed by securing the end tabs to the pad;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6 showing the overlapped marginal edges of the wrapper;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6 showing the attachment cord loop formed at each end of the diaper with the attachment cord positioned in the loop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

The absorbent pad 10 of this invention may take a number of forms depending on the contemplated use for the pad. It typically includes a cellulose pulp-type body or filler 12 which is inexpensive and has good moisture absorbency and retention characteristics. The filler I2 is encased in a wrapper 14 which extends outwardly from each end of the filler 12 to form end tabs 16. The end tabs 16 are folded back endwise onto the filler 12 and are secured to the portion of the wrapper 14 overlying the filler 12. The end tabs 16 may be releasably or permanently secured to the wrapper 14 around the filler, depending on the contemplated use for the pad.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 means are provided to releasably secure the end tabs 16 to the portion 14 of the wrapper around the filler 12, thus to temporarily hold the end tabs 16 in position for packaging. The absorbent cellulose filler 12 is shown encased within the wrapper 14 which is made from an absorbent material such as nonwoven fabric or gauze. As is also shown in my US. Pat. No. 3,289,254, the edge margins 20 of the wrapper 14 are overlapped to form a longitudinal seam 18. A head 22 of thermoplastic adhesive material is between the overlapped edges 20. The thermoplastic bead 22 is heated to heat seal the marginal edges together to form the longitudinal seam 18. The end tabs 16 are folded back endwise onto the portion 14 of the wrapper on the filler 12, with the seam 18in the end tabs 16 in abutting engagement with the longitudinal seam 18 across the filler 12. Means are provided to momentarily apply heat to the overlapped seams 18, thus to tack or heat seal the end tab 16 to the filler 12. This means may consist of a heater roller 24 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2 and which is rolled along the superposed seams 18in the end tab 16 to heat activate the adhesive head 22 in the seam 18. The thermoplastic material of the bead 22 will permeate the wrapper material in the local area of seam l8 sufficiently to form a bond along the seam 18. This bond will be sufficient to hold the end tab 16 in position for packaging but not strong enough to prevent the end tab 16 from being pulled away from the pad for use.

In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, means are provided to permanently secure the end tabs 36 to the body of the pad to form loops 44 at each end of the pad. The absorbent pad or filler 30 is encased within a wrapper 34 which extends outwardly from each end of the pad 30 to form end tabs 36. One side of the wrapper 34 is formed from a film of absorbent sheet material such as nonwoven cellulose wadding or gauze 38 and the other side is formed of a moisture resistant film 40 of polyethylene. The moisture resistant film 40 is overlapped along the longitudinal marginal edges 32 of the absorbent material 38 to form a longitudinal seam 43 along each edge of the filler 30. Heat is applied to the seam 43 to activate the polyethylene film and bond the edge of the absorbent sheet material 38 to the polyethylene film 40; The end tabs 36 are then folded back endwise onto the film portion 40 of the wrapper 34 to leave transverse channels or loops 44 at each end of the pad. Heat is momentarily applied to the end tab 36 by an appropriate means to activate the polyethylene and heat seal the film 40 in the end tab to the film 40 in the filler 30.

Means are provided in the loop 44 for attaching the pad to the user. This means may be a string, strap, or cord 46 which is threaded through the loop 44 or placed in the end tab 36 prior to securing the end tab to the pad.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, an absorbent pad 50 in the form of a diaper is shown having a filler 51 encased in a wrapper 53 with an attachment cord 52 provided in the loops 54 formed by the end tabs 56. Except for its larger size, this embodiment is similar to the napkin embodiment of FIGS. 3 through 5 inclusive. One side of the wrapper 53 comprises an absorbent sheet such as nonwoven fabric or gauze, and the other side comprises a moisture resistant film 62 of polyethylene film. The moisture resistant film 62 is overlapped with the sheet 60 along longitudinal marginal edges 65 thereof. The polyethylene film 62 is heated to bond the moisture resistant film 62 to the moisture absorbent sheet 60. The end tabs 56 are folded back endwise onto the filler 51 with the moisture resistant film 62 in the end tab in abutting engagement with the moisture resistant film 62 over the filler 51. Heat is applied to the overlapped end tab 56 by any appropriate means to heat seal the end tab 56 to the pad with a loop 54 formed at each end of the filler. A cord, strap, or string 52 is provided in each of the loops 54 for attaching the diaper to the user.

lclaim:

I. An absorbent pad comprising a filler, a wrapper encasing said filler and extending from each end of the filler to form end tabs, said end tabs being folded endwise back onto said wrapper, and means sealing said end tabs to said wrapper, and means comprising a polyethylene film forming a part of said wrapper. said end tabs being folded onto said wrapper with said film in abutting engagement.

2. An absorbent pad comprising:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,575, 7 Dated Patent No. April 20, 1971 Inventor(s) Ruth J08 K1818.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, Line 5, "and" should read --said Signed and sealed this 21;.th day of August 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Commissioner of Patents 

1. An absorbent pad comprising a filler, a wrapper encasing said filler and extending from each end of the filler to form end tabs, said end tabs being folded endwise back onto said wrapper, and means sealing said end tabs to said wrapper, and means comprising a polyethylene film forming a part of said wrapper, said end tabs being folded onto said wrapper with said film in abutting engagement.
 2. An absorbent pad comprising: a filler; a wrapper formed from a moisture absorbent sheet; a moisture resistant film; said wrapper being wrapped about said filler and extending outwardly from each end to form end tabs; and said end tabs being folded back endwise and heat sealed to said wrapper with said moisture resistant film in abutting engagement.
 3. A pad according to claim 2 including a loop formed by said end tabs at each end of said pad and an attachment means provided in each of said loops. 